Alicia’s POV:And then came the words I didn’t expect to hear from Acker.“I will be leaving the country for a while, and so will Serrano,” he said as though he were concluding some business meeting.I blinked… slowly while my brain processed his words. As it did, there came a vastly unpleasant feeling crawling up my throat and threatening to choke me.“What?” I asked aloud as if it would change what I had just heard.Acker must have not heard me, because he continued, “In the meantime, our men will look after you. They are under orders to follow your commands-““No, wait wait.” I raised my two hands and he instantly quietened, but not before giving me a warning glare which I didn’t pay any attention to, of course. “You’re leaving?” My voice softened.Mikael stepped forward, still holding my picture frame in his hand. “There are some things that have to be done, marina. And they can’t be done here.”I could see the agreement in their postures, and knew that they had jointly decided th
Alicia’s POV:Damn it.My breathing was heavy and I leaned against the tree to steady it. Sweat rolled down my face as I took in deep breaths and exhaled them slowly as best as I could until my racing heart began to slow down.“This is so damn hard,” I mumbled to myself, right in the cusp of dawn.The trail I was in was close to my apartment and I had taken to jogging on it every day. Though I enjoyed it sometimes, there were times like this that reminded me of how long I spent being totally unfit.There was a chill in the air and I shivered as a breeze washed over me.Making a mental note to bring my jacket from now on, I began the slow walk back to my apartment.Though the sun had risen by then, there weren’t a lot of people on the streets, so I plugged in my headphones and Enjoyed a bit of music. I was going to make mental notes for today, thinking of the one college class I had to go to as well as a volunteering gig I got the previous day.My deal is looking up. I paid no attentio
Alicia’s POVThe car was silent and I tried to not fidget as I heard Cross’ finger tapping on the steering wheel as he drove the short distance to my apartment.“So little girl,” Cross started up the conversation even though I didn’t want to hear a thing from him. I didn’t want to be here, I didn’t even want to remember he existed. “How has college been?”“What does that have to do with you?” I blurted that out seemingly without care.If he wasn’t going to hurt me then a little comment like that wouldn’t hurt me right?I heard his chuckle which made me turn to look at him briefly.“You have a sharp tongue when you know you’re not in danger, girl. You should watch yourself. You never know,” his Italian lilt gave me shivers, not because they reminded me of Mikael’s, but due to the underlying threat hiding beneath his words.Watch yourself, or I will hurt you, he was basically saying.How far away had I walked again? Weren’t we supposed to be teaching the apartment by now?“I’m just aski
Alicia’s POVThe buzzing of my phone was what woke me up in the middle of the night and I opened my eyes to the blurry sight of my pillow, darkness, and a light from afar.It took me more than a couple seconds to come to my senses and I yawned a little before raising my head at the buzzing phone.Then, it stopped.My curiosity was piqued once I inched my hand closer to the phone and picked it up from the wireless charging port on my nightstand (something I didn’t know existed in my bedroom until a rather fortuitous accident a couple of days ago).It was 12.37am.So why would I be getting calls?As if to Answer the unspoken question, the phone once again began to vibrate in my hand. Another call coming through.I stared at the phone for a moment.Who was ‘The Love of My Life’? I didn’t save this number, nor did I know who it might be.I pursed my lips. Should I answer or not?The call went on for another couple of seconds before I finally made my decision and swiped the green button on
Mikael’s POV I miss you.Fuck.She had clearly not meant to say that. Perhaps I should let it go?My thoughts were, as usual for me recently, drawn towards that girl again. Alicia Stevens. Or rather, Alicia Duncan.It was a frustrating thread of thought that wouldn’t end, no matter how much I tried to. That girl, who was rightfully my property(and Madden’s too but I wouldn’t think about the British Don anytime soon), had consumed my every thought whenever I was not busy with work.Distracting me.Confusing me.Right now, even in Italy, in the heart of my work, I was distracted by thoughts of her.It had been over two weeks since I had seen her and I thought I would be rid of the strange desires by now. But no. It wouldn’t fucking stop.“Porco cane,” i muttered under my breath lest my chauffer hear my frustrated tones. “Mi hai fatto qualcosa.”Her soft admission of missing me during the call just earlier this morning was driving me mad. It had slipped out and I knew it. I had been sur
Alicia’s POV“Thanks, bye,” I waved at the manager as I closed for the day. It was my first day at work. I had finally caved and gotten a job closer to my college. It was a part time job, but still quite nice to have something else to do other than study and lounge around in the apartment all day.My phone sat in the pocket of my leather jacket as I refrained from calling Dominic or any of the other men to pick me up. I had shown up to the small cafe without my car, not wanting to make a bad first impression.Lingering on the side of the pavement for a second, I pondered on what I should take: taxi or bus?I still had my bus pass from the times I used it religiously to get to my former job so I quickly made the decision and began to walk down to where I remembered the nearest bus stop to be.“Oh, Alicia, is that you?” I heard a familiar voice that stopped me in my tracks a couple of meters from the bus stop.I turned around, my lips parting as I saw my best friend… or rather, my forme
Acker’s POV“Javier, report,” my voice was akin to steel as I talked with my one and only friend.“Relax, Acker,” Javier sounded calm and I could hear the sounds of cars passing by his location as he replied to me. “I have been keeping an eye on her since I arrived. And none of the men have seen or heard from Cross either.”I grit my teeth, squaring my jaw.That wasn’t enough.It was only last night that I got the word that Cross Serpenti was back in the US. He had hidden away and scurried from the States after his manipulative tactic to hit back at Serrano and myself using Castro. When that hadn’t worked, clearly he was back for more.The flight attendant placed the glass of wine on the table in front of me and I stared at the red fragrant liquid, decidedly angered that I had made the wrong decision.I had not even contacted Alicia after I had left, thinking it would be a distraction to me.My fingers tapped on the armrest of my chair and I turned to glance at the clouds. This high u
Alicia’s POV The professor droned on like a robot programmed to make everyone fall asleep.Looking around me I could see he had been successful.I however was paying rap attention, although I didn’t speak. I was more of a non-participant in this lecture which was on an elective I chose to take.“This fucking blows,” one student next to me whispered in the loudest voice I could adequately call a whisper. “When’s this class ends again? Has he taken attendance?”“Dunno.” The guy’s friend shrugged.I ignored the noise about me and focused on taking the meager notes that I was capable of at that moment.For most of them, being in college was a no-brainer, yet I hadn’t a chance of getting admission if I didn’t have the help of Acker and Mikael. So I wasn’t planning on slacking in any way. It was my way of proving that o belonged here no matter what anyone thought or said.Daya’s sneering face flashed in my head, and I exhaled sharply. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the horrible